Glaston strengthens its position in heat treatment and acquires the industrial property rights to all Glassrobots products

09/10/2014

Glaston strengthens its position in heat treatment and acquires the industrial property rights to all Glassrobots products

Glaston has acquired the industrial property rights to all Glassrobots
products. The acquisition strengthens Glaston's position as a global technology leader in glass processing machines and as a provider of the industry's most extensive lifecycle services.

As a result of the deal, concluded on 8 August 2014 the industrial property rights and related documentation of Finnish glass processing machine manufacturer Glassrobots Oy's flat tempering and bending machines and also of its automotive products and other equipment will transfer to Glaston. The deal is conditional on the approval of the Glassrobots Oy bankruptcy estate creditors' meeting.

"The acquisition will significantly strengthen our position in the heat
treatment machine segment, where we are already very strong," says Glaston Corporation's President & CEO, Arto Metsänen. "The deal will support our technological competitive advantage, in addition to which it will strengthen our service business, because through our extensive geographical network we will be able to supply Glassrobots' customers with significantly more comprehensive maintenance services," explains Metsänen.

The industrial property rights include, among other things, three major
patents, which Glaston can in future utilise in its own product development. Through the acquisition, the company can also continue the active defence of its intellectual property rights in the market. In addition, the industrial property rights, documentation and supplier network will give Glaston the exclusive right to supply Glassrobots' customers with original spare parts and technical support.

Glaston will establish a separate Glassrobots service team. Materials
management and logistics will be combined at Glaston's distribution centre in Tampere. This will ensure for existing Glassrobots customers continuity of aftermarket business and, in future, more comprehensive lifecycle services for spare parts, maintenance work and modernisations.